How to Give a Cat a Pill

How to Give a Cat a Pill

Part 1:

Giving a cat a pill can be more challenging then giving a dog or even a toddler medication. Perseverance and creativity is the key to get your cat to take his medicine. How to Give a Cat a Pill

The most docile cat will become a wild tiger when you try to give them medication. If you start to give them a pill and they escape you then have the added job of retrieving Fluffy from on top of the refrigerator in addition to trying to give medication.

The best advice to giving medication to cats I have found is to get it in liquid form from the veterinarian if possible. Pet medication, like human medication sometimes has to be taken on an empty stomach. Check with the veterinarian to make sure that you can mix the liquid medication in wet food. Then simply take a very small amount of wet food and add the medicine. Place the food where only the get needing the medication can get it. Dogs and other cats should not have a chance to accidently eat the treated cat food. How to Give a Cat a Pill

The wet food trick works for pills that you can crush up into a powder and use in the food. The trick here is to like the liquid to make sure the cat finishes the whole treated meal. Again not all medication can be crushed so check with your veterinarian to make sure you cat’s medicine can be administered this way. Caplets can be opened can also be given this way but make sure that you empty them completely. How to Give a Cat a Pill

When Kitty is NOT Easily Fooled!

There are some cats that will detect that you have added something to their medication. They will refuse to eat the treated food. There are some medications that can not be mixed with food. These situations call for two people. One way to give a whole pill is to wrap the cat up in a blanket or towel. Then have another person to hold the cats head still while you use a syringe to place liquid medication in their mouths. If you must do a pill in this manner, well good luck. There are pill ‘guns” you can get from the veterinarian to shoot the pill down the throat. Normally in such cases you need someone to immobilize the cat and tilt their head backwards. This might actually take three people. You can also do this with your finger. How to Give a Cat a Pill

The cat’s mouth will open momentarily when you tilt their head back. Push the pill in the throat as far as possible without triggering a gag reflex. Let the cat place his head forward and stroke his throat to make sure he has swallowed it. Be assured the second time you have to give the cat a pill in this manner it will be even more of a struggle, because cat’s have very long memories.

Have The Cavalry Ready

If you are having a great deal of trouble giving your cat his medication talk to your veterinarian or find a friend or neighbor who is more experienced at such things. You and your cat will appreciate it.

If your cat is not taking his medication on last resort would be to find out if the pharmacy will put it in some flavored liquid suspension. This works better with dogs because they are inclined to like the same flavors children do when having medication flavored.

Part 2

How to give a cat a pill … and a dog, too

How to give a cat a pill:

Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.

Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil, and blow down drinking straw.

Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill and open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.

Tie the little @!!@#@#$%’s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak filet. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and remove pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

About The Author

I am a Nebelung cat named Jack.
I am a rescue kitty who lives in Seattle with his human family.
I enjoy blogging, cuddling, napping, playing peekabooboo (it's a bit like "tag") and catnip.
I am a very gentle soul and my humans spoil me as they should. >^..^<